Isolated spontaneous renal artery dissection: endovascular management

We report a rare case of isolated spontaneous renal artery dissection treated by stent placement. A 59-year-old man presented with a sudden onset of left flank pain and severe hypertension together with elevated creatinine levels. A computed tomography scan revealed a focal dissection at the left renal artery (LRA) with an infarcted left kidney. Despite medical treatment with 4 drugs, the patient's blood pressure remained uncontrolled. Angiography confirmed the diagnosis. A 6- × 60-mm Xpert stent (Abbott Vascular, Temecula, CA) was deployed at the LRA, achieving an enlarged true lumen with a patent stent. After the procedure, acute renal impairment was observed but pain subsided and blood pressure normalized under the treatment prescribed. At 12 months of follow-up, the patient was normotensive and asymptomatic with mild chronic renal failure and a patent LRA stent on doppler ultrasonography. The endovascular treatment of isolated spontaneous renal artery dissection appears to be feasible and effective and could be the first-line treatment when revascularization is needed.